PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Kruglov (ranked 794 p4p, 1082 weight class) and Ryu Akutagawa (ranked 106 p4p, 153 weight class). Kruglov comes to the cage accompanied by МИХАИЛ КРУГ - Владимирский централ. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kruglov
vs
Akutagawa

175 cm
23
179
9 - 4 - 0

190 cm
23
177
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Champion Apparel

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Viktor Kruglov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryu Akutagawa!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruglov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Akutagawa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kruglov.
Viktor Kruglov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kruglov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kruglov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Akutagawa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Akutagawa throws a looping overhand right but Kruglov ducks down to avoid it.
Kruglov throws a hook but Akutagawa blocks it.
It seemed like Akutagawa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kruglov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kruglov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kruglov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kruglov needs to keep his hands up - Akutagawa had a free shot at his head there.
Akutagawa is looking to score with low kicks.
A swing and a miss from Kruglov.
Kruglov cracks Akutagawa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kruglov misses with a left hand
and Akutagawa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A bone on bone clash there as Akutagawa blocks the leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Akutagawa on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akutagawa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Akutagawa throws a solid leg kick but Kruglov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Akutagawa.
A leg kick checked by Akutagawa.
Kruglov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kruglov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Akutagawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Kruglov.
Akutagawa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nice shot by Akutagawa.
Akutagawa lands a nice shot to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Akutagawa, as that shot connected.
Kruglov misses with a hook to the body
and Akutagawa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Akutagawa looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A good leg kick by Akutagawa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa lands a front kick.
Kruglov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akutagawa.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Akutagawa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kruglov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Akutagawa.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kruglov, as that shot connected.
Kruglov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Akutagawa is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kruglov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Akutagawa throws out a counter right but Kruglov avoids it with no problem.
Akutagawa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kruglov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kruglov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akutagawa avoids the body shot from Kruglov.
Kruglov misses with a body shot.
Akutagawa has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A jab from Akutagawa does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kruglov is looking to wear down Akutagawa with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kruglov misses the body punch
and Akutagawa counters with a nice kick to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kruglov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kruglov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Akutagawa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A shot to the body from Akutagawa misses
and Kruglov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Akutagawa thinking.
A head kick by Kruglov misses
and Akutagawa counters with a nice uppercut.
Kruglov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kruglov lands a right hook to the body.
Kruglov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kruglov throws a head kick but Akutagawa moves out of range.
Akutagawa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Akutagawa throws a push kick but Kruglov slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kruglov lands a head kick!
Kruglov with a jab.
Akutagawa misses with an uppercut
and Kruglov counters with a straight right hand.
Akutagawa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A counter left hand to the body from Kruglov misses its target.
Nice defenses there by Kruglov.
Akutagawa misses with a body shot
and Kruglov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Akutagawa slips under a jab from Kruglov.
Akutagawa counters with a body kick.
Akutagawa throws the left hand but Kruglov avoids the punch easily.
Akutagawa moves out of range of the strikes.

Kruglov has closed the distance and engaged Akutagawa in a clinch.

Kruglov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ryu Akutagawa will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kruglov misses with a body shot.
Kruglov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akutagawa.
Kruglov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akutagawa scoring well with a low kick there.
Kruglov throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Kruglov. That snapped Akutagawa's head back.
Akutagawa misses the shot to the body.
Akutagawa misses with a lunging right hand
and Kruglov makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Akutagawa really felt that one!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruglov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akutagawa moves away.
Akutagawa throws a body shot but no joy.
Kruglov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Akutagawa throws a hook to the side of Kruglov's head but Kruglov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruglov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Akutagawa thows a leg kick but Kruglov checks it
and Kruglov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Akutagawa checks a low kick from Kruglov.
Viktor Kruglov is winning the standup battle so far.
Kruglov misses with a looping right.
Akutagawa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kruglov.
A nice side step and Akutagawa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kruglov scores with a hook.
Akutagawa moves out of range of the body kick from Kruglov.
Kruglov moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromAkutagawa.
Kruglov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Akutagawa in his tracks.
Kruglov checks the leg kick nicely there.
An attempted straight right counter from Kruglov misses the target.
Akutagawa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kruglov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Akutagawa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Akutagawa throws a right hand that misses
and Kruglov counters with a nice body kick.
Akutagawa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Akutagawa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kruglov counters with a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruglov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akutagawa manages to avoid it.
Kruglov misses with a hook to the body
and Akutagawa counters with a right hand to the body.

Kruglov has closed the distance and engaged Akutagawa in a clinch.
A hook to the body from Akutagawa.

Kruglov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kruglov jabs at Akutagawa's body.
Kruglov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Akutagawa counters with a stiff right hand.
Kruglov takes a swing at Akutagawa's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Akutagawa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kruglov doesn't seem bothered though.
Akutagawa cracks Kruglov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kruglov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Akutagawa counters with a nice leg kick.

Kruglov instigates a clinch.
Kruglov tries a body shot but Akutagawa blocks it.
Kruglov prevents a body shot from Akutagawa.
Akutagawa prevents a body shot from Kruglov.

Kruglov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akutagawa with the inside leg kick.
Kruglov avoids a kick to the body.
Crunch! Akutagawa slams his shin into Kruglov's torso.
Kruglov throws the left hand but Akutagawa avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Akutagawa counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Akutagawa lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akutagawa scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Akutagawa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Akutagawa lands with a nice body punch.
Kruglov checks a leg kick nicely.
Kruglov misses with a body shot.
Kruglov thows a leg kick but Akutagawa checks it
and Akutagawa counters with a good low kick that Kruglov was not able to check.
Akutagawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kruglov is looking to counter with a body kick.
Akutagawa just misses with a punch to the body.
Akutagawa blocks the body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryu Akutagawa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Kruglov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A nice leg kick from Kruglov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kruglov misses with a body shot
and Akutagawa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Akutagawa lands a leg kick that knocks Kruglov off balance momentarily.
Kruglov wants to clinch up but Akutagawa keeps it at a distance.
Kruglov throws the kick towards the body but Akutagawa avoids it.
Kruglov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Akutagawa moves out of range as Kruglov throws a body kick.
A big left from Akutagawa misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akutagawa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kruglov looks to land a right hand but Akutagawa moved out of range.
A head kick misses from Kruglov.
Kruglov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Kruglov.
Kruglov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akutagawa scores with a jab to the jaw.
Akutagawa takes one to the side of the head.
Kruglov throws a right hand that misses
and Akutagawa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Decent striking displayed by Akutagawa there.
Akutagawa throws a head kick but Kruglov moves out of range.
Kruglov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Akutagawa connects with a crisp jab.
Akutagawa looks to score with a jab to the body but Kruglov is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kruglov throws an off balance right hand
and Akutagawa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kruglov throws a leg kick
and Akutagawa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kruglov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Kruglov is rocked!
Akutagawa moves out of range of the body kick from Kruglov.
Akutagawa throws a leg kick but Kruglov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Akutagawa punishes Kruglov's body with a nice straight punch.
Kruglov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akutagawa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Akutagawa checks a low kick from Kruglov.
Akutagawa keeps Kruglov at a distance using the push kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Akutagawa tries to land a body kick
and Kruglov counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov missing with a left hand there. Akutagawa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kruglov blocks a jab.
Akutagawa lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kruglov is looking to clinch.
Viktor Kruglov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kruglov throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Akutagawa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kruglov misses the body punch
and Akutagawa counters with a thumping low kick.
Decent striking displayed by Akutagawa there.
Akutagawa uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kruglov has time to react.
Oh Kruglov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kruglov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kruglov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Akutagawa feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Kruglov sprawling to the canvas! Kruglov rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Akutagawa finish him?!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kruglov throws a sloppy body shot
and Akutagawa scores with a counter punch that sends Kruglov to the canvas! Akutagawa smells blood - he's punishing Kruglov with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Kruglov has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ryu Akutagawa!
During a confident post fight interview, Ryu Akutagawa thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.